بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم
Muharram is one of the ‘Asyhurul Hurum’, the four sacred months of Allah s.w.t. In this month, we are encouraged to increase our good deeds like giving more to charity, doing extra voluntary prayers and reciting the Quran frequently. In this month, there is also a fast, prescribed by Rasulullah s.a.w called the fast of Ashura.
According to a narration reported by Aishah r.a, the wife of the Prophet s.a.w, it was a pre-Islamic tradition of the Quraish and people of Makkah to fast on the 10th day of Muharram. The Prophet s.a.w also observed it. However, when he migrated to Madinah, the Prophet s.a.w found that a group of ‘the People of the Book’ were also fasting on the same day. Rasulullah s.a.w asked them the reason why they were fasting on that day and they replied
هذا يَوْمٌ عَظِيمٌ، وهو يَوْمٌ نَجَّى اللَّهُ فيه مُوسَى، وأَغْرَقَ آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ، فَصَامَ مُوسَى شُكْرًا لِلَّهِ
“This is a blessed day. On this day, Allah saved (Prophet) Musa and drowned the people of Firaun (the pharoah), and so Prophet Musa a.s fasted on this day to give thanks to Allah..”
Sahih Al-Bukhari
Upon hearing their response, the Prophet s.a.w urged his companions to uphold this good act as Muslims believe in all the prophets of Allah a.s.